Israel legalizes West Bank settler outpostsIsrael legalized three unsanctioned West Bank settler outposts and was trying to save another on Tuesday, infuriating the Palestinians as the chief American Mideast envoy was in the region laboring to revive peace efforts.

U.S. and Japan to announce new basing agreementThe United States and Japan are nearing completion of a new basing agreement for U.S. troops in Okinawa, but three top senators want to make sure that Congress has a seat at the table before anything is set in stone.

Exclusive: North Korea's nuclear test ready "soon"North Korea has almost completed preparations for a third nuclear test, a senior source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said, an act that would draw further international condemnation following a failed rocket launch.

Putin to Pass Control of Party to MedvedevPrime Minister Vladimir V. Putin said Tuesday that he would step down as chairman of United Russia, the political party he has led since 2008, and hand the reins of the parliamentary majority to his protégé, President Dmitri A. Medvedev.